1. Microfiber towel

These super absorbent towels are great for wiping off camera gear, car windows, or anything else that gets wet or fogged up. Microfiber will not scratch , as long as you’re careful not to get dirt on the towel and wash them after they get dirty.

For just wiping off things here and there you can get just about any microfiber available. You *can* use them to clean off more sensitive things like your camera lens, but you want to make sure there’s no dirt to scratch the glass when you wipe it.

Honestly, I’d recommend a glass specific cloth for that.

2. Air blower (+ cleaning kit)

An air blower helps you clean dust off your lens and camera without touching it, which is the key to avoiding scratches. You can also use the lens brush in this kit to get off more stubborn dirt that won’t blow away. After the big stuff is off, then you can touch the lens with a wet cleaning cloth to remove smudges and oil. Never wipe a dry lens with a dry towel unless it’s already been cleaned!

3. Extra batteries and memory cards

You’re almost guaranteed to fill a memory card sooner or later, so don’t get caught without extras. I usually recommend having at least 128GB for each day of your trip, but it’s best not to put all your images on a single card. Several 64 GB cards would be safer in case you lose one.

If you do any kind of video (especially 4K) or have a high megapixel camera, I’d go with the fastest 128GB or 256GB card and get several of them.

Like memory cards, you don’t want to be caught without an extra battery. It’s happened to me, and it will happen to you. Make sure to have at least a couple of extra batteries for each camera. I typically use less than a full battery in a day of shooting, but it really depends on how many images you take.

You can take a chance with cheaper off-brand batteries, but I’d recommend sticking with your camera brand. The third-party batteries I bought a few years ago stopped charging completely after less than a year.

4. Multitool

There are always times you need a screwdriver, clippers, or pliers to tighten up something like a tripod. A small multitool is the best way to keep all of these little things together.

5. Hand warmers

These are great to have on a cold shooting day. I use the traditional hand warmers often, but I also have rechargeable ones. They seem to put out more consistent heat and last just as long, but they are heavier and bulkier.

6. Rain cover

A rain cover is an invaluable asset, especially if your camera doesn’t have professional-level weather sealing. Even if your camera has decent sealing, not all lenses or adapters are sealed to the same level. You can go with a cheap cover that will work (garbage bag?), but a better quality one like this Lenscoat rain cover will last much longer and not fail.

7. Notebook

A notebook is very useful in jotting down locations you saw something, reminders, camera settings, tips, etc.

Field Notes is a great brand of quality notebooks and they recently released these National Park series books, with several other options from what’s pictured here.

8. LED Headlamp

If you do any hiking around sunset, you don’t want to get caught without a headlamp after dark.

9. Compact binoculars

A good pair of binoculars is great for checking the landscape and trees for animals you’re looking to photograph. A small pair is nice to keep in your backpack if you’ll be walking around. I have a larger 10×50 pair that I keep in my car most of the time.

10. Your camera manual

Unless you know your camera very well, I would highly recommend keeping your manual in your camera bag. It will tell you everything you could possibly want to know about every single feature of your camera. There’s always the one little setting where you aren’t so sure what it does, and a quick flip through the manual will answer that.

If you aren’t tech savvy, I would highly recommend reading the entire manual of your camera. You will be so much more comfortable with the settings by doing so. If you simplify your camera into a basic tool, you can focus on the creative side of photography instead of worrying about what settings to choose.

Bonus: Backpack Recommendations

I have been using Lowepro backpacks for years and currently have two. One is a standard backpack (Lowepro Hatchback) with a padded insert for a little bit of camera gear. This one is great if you don’t have much to carry (maybe one camera and a couple lenses). I mostly use this for traveling with an iPad/MacBook now.

My main camera backpack that I’ve also used for a few years now is the Lowepro Whistler BP. This is a much bigger pack where almost the entire thing is meant for camera gear. There is a small compartment up top for snacks and such, and a waterproof section on the front side for water or a small laptop.

This fits my 400mm f/4 lens, but it’s tight. I may look for another pack to fit everything better in the future, but most of the time my big lens and camera are outside the backpack. It’s a perfect size for carry-on luggage and I’ve flown with all my gear in here.

Another good option to look at is the Lowepro Protrekker bag. There are different size options, so make sure to check their website to see what works for your gear